desipramine vs nabilone

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Side-by-side comparison of desipramine and nabilone. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

CONCOMITANT DRUG CLINICAL EFFECT(S) Amphetamines, cocaine, other sympathomimetic agents Additive hypertension, tachycardia, possibly cardiotoxicity Atropine, scopolamine, antihistamines, other anticholinergic agents Additive or super-additive tachycardia, drowsiness Amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine, other tricyclic antidepressants Additive tachycardia, hypertension, drowsiness Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, ethanol, lithium, opioids, buspirone, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, other CNS depressants Additive drowsiness and CNS depression Disulfiram A reversible hypomanic reaction was...

Drug Class
desipramine Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA)
nabilone Cannabinoid Antiemetic
Type
desipramine Prescription
nabilone Prescription
Summary
desipramine

Desipramine is a medicine used to treat depression. It belongs to a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants.

nabilone

Cesamet contains nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid. It helps reduce nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy when other medicines don't work.

What It Treats
desipramine

Desipramine is used to treat depression. Depression can cause feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and trouble functioning in daily life. This medicine can help improve your mood and overall well-being.

nabilone

Cesamet is used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. You should only use it if other anti-nausea medicines have not worked for you. This medicine can change your mental state, so someone should watch over you when you first start taking it and when your dose changes.

How It Works
desipramine

Desipramine works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain. It helps to increase the levels of norepinephrine. This can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression.

nabilone

Cesamet is a synthetic cannabinoid, similar to the active ingredient in marijuana. It works by affecting the parts of your brain that control nausea and vomiting. This helps to reduce these side effects of chemotherapy.

Common Side Effects
desipramine
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Constipation
  • Blurred vision
nabilone
  • Drowsiness
  • Vertigo (feeling dizzy)
  • Dry mouth
  • Euphoria (feeling "high")
  • Ataxia (loss of coordination)
FAERS Reports
desipramine
  • Fatigue 119
  • Completed Suicide 116
  • Nausea 77
  • Headache 70
  • Weight Increased 68
nabilone
  • Pain 473
  • Musculoskeletal Stiffness 285
  • Insomnia 265
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis 265
  • Drug Hypersensitivity 254
Serious Warnings
desipramine

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teens, and young adults. Watch for worsening depression, unusual behavior, or thoughts of suicide. Desipramine is not approved for use in children.

nabilone

Cesamet can change your mental state. It has a high potential for abuse. Your doctor should watch you for signs of overuse or misuse, especially if you have a history of substance abuse or mental illness.

Pregnancy
desipramine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Desipramine may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding.

nabilone

The effects of Cesamet during pregnancy and breastfeeding are not well known. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This desipramine vs nabilone Comparison

desipramine is classified in the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) drug class, while nabilone sits within the Cannabinoid Antiemetic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, desipramine has 450 submissions while nabilone has 1,542. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these drugs can work together to speed up your heart rate and raise your blood pressure while also making you feel sleepy.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for desipramine or nabilone.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.